German engineers have thought to reinvent ... heated windscreen. Typically, heated windshields imply the presence of very thin electrical wires inside the glass, after a similar principle used for the demisting and defrosting the rear window. Press a button and in minutes, the ice on the windshield melts.
Well, instead of filaments between the sheets of glass in the windscreen are integrated conductive layers of a material based on silver which brings several advantages. First, consumption is maximum 500 watt, and the heating of the surface of the windshield is faster and more uniform, thus increasing the level of comfort and safety in vehicle use.
There are, however, filaments in the windshield. They are placed at the base, in areas where the wipers "rest", contributing to their fast thawing in the winter. An important advantage will appear in the summer: the layers based on silver, reflects up to 60% of solar radiation, so there is no need the use of intensive air-conditioning system.
The Germans even states that, unlike the usual sunscreen films, which is applied to windshields, their solution can reduce the inside temperature even 15 degrees Celsius, so, after the car stay long in the sun, the cabin's not so hot (but this remains to be verified).
Convenience has also a price: this "windshield wireless" will be offered optional on some models of the manufacturer, costing at least 340 euros (in Germany). I'm waiting the time when this solution will be combined with Gorilla Glass, to get rid of all problems.